Lille: Private 2CV Convertible Tour & Local Tasting

Summary

Ride through Lille in a vintage 2CV tasting local treats

You’ll cruise Lille’s old town in a vintage convertible 2CV with a local guide who shares stories you won’t find in any brochure. There’s time for tasting regional beer, pâté, and those famous chewy waffles — all included. Expect laughter, city secrets, and a different view of Lille’s landmarks from an open roof.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Lille city tour and local tasting

• Visit Lille Old Town streets
• Admire Porte de Paris and Belfry
• Pass famous old town street and Meert pastry
• See highest Belfry of Northern France
• Pass De Gaulle family house and museum
• Pass old stock exchange on Grand Place
• Admire Rihour Palace from 2CV

Top questions

How long does the private Lille 2CV tour last?

The tour lasts one hour.

What local products are included in the tasting?

You’ll try regional beer, handcrafted waffles, candies, and traditional pâté.

Is pickup included for this Lille tour?

Yes, private transportation with pickup is included.

Can infants or small children join this tour?

Yes, infants can ride on an adult’s lap or in a stroller/pram.

Are service animals allowed on this tour?

Yes, service animals are allowed.

What are some landmarks seen during the tour?

You’ll pass by Vieux Lille (Old Town), Porte de Paris, Lille Town Hall Belfry, Charles de Gaulle’s birthplace, Grand Place and Rihour Palace.

Is public transportation nearby after the tour?

Yes, there are public transportation options nearby.

What’s included

Your hour includes private pickup in a classic Citroën 2CV driven by your local guide through Lille’s historic streets and squares. Along the way you’ll stop to taste regional specialties—beer brewed nearby, traditional pâté spread on fresh bread, chewy waffles and candies—before finishing back where you started or wherever suits you best downtown.

What’s the experience like?

The first thing I noticed was the soft rumble of the Citroën 2CV engine, and how people on the sidewalk actually smiled or waved as we rolled past. Our driver, Luc, had that easy northern French warmth — he pointed out the Vieux Lille buildings with their pale bricks and crooked shutters, but also told us where his grandma used to buy her bread. I leaned back, scarf fluttering (it was breezy), and tried to take it all in: the scent of baking waffles drifting from Meert, someone calling out “Allez!” at a cyclist weaving by. You don’t really get this feeling behind glass windows.

We zipped past the Lille Town Hall Belfry — Luc slowed so we could look up through the open roof. It’s taller than I expected, kind of looming over Porte de Paris like it’s keeping watch. He joked about how locals use it as a weather forecast (“If you can see the belfry, it’s about to rain; if you can’t see it, it’s already raining”). That made me laugh. The car itself is a character — every bump in the cobblestones is part of the story. We passed Charles de Gaulle’s birthplace too; Luc shared a quick story about De Gaulle sneaking pastries as a kid. Not sure if that was true or just local legend.

Halfway through, we stopped at this tiny square for our tasting — local beer (malty but not heavy), pâté that tasted way better than I expected (I’m not usually into pâté), and these chewy little waffles with sugar crystals inside. There was no rush; even the way Luc poured the beer felt deliberate, like he wanted us to notice how golden it looked in the afternoon light. I still think about that first bite of waffle sometimes — maybe because I ate it sitting in an old car with strangers who suddenly felt like friends.